Distributor for ignition systems



Nov'. 1, 1927.

A. C. SCHROEDER DISTRIBUTOR FOR IGNITION SYSTEMS v Filed Dec. 10, 1924 Patented Nov. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES: PATENT OFFICE? ARTHUR ,o. scnnonnnn, .or'sYnAcusn, NEW yortiihssrenon or ONE-HALF TO ROBERT 13. seems, or EL RENO, OKLAHOMA.

nisrnrnuron ron IGNITION sYsrnris.

Application filed December 10, 1924. Serial No. 755,048.

This invention relates to distributors, or timers, for theignition system of internal combustion engines, and has for 1ts ob ect a timer, which is particularly simple and economical in construction, and which makes contact. with theterininals or contacts connected to the spark plugs, during comparatively long periods of time. Other ob ects The invention consist in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions .hereinafterset forth and claimed.

In describing this invention reference is a had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is plan view of this'timer, the

cap being removed.

Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view taken on Fig. 1. I I

FigureS is a fragmentary elevation of the 'base.

This distributoror timer, comprises genlit) erally a metal base formed with a flat face.

and openings at intervals through such flat face, contacts arranged in circular series in such openings, insulation between the contacts and thebase, and a wiper movable aboutanaxis at the center of such circular series of contacts and over such face and such contacts. r

1 designates thebase which is discoidal in general form, and formed with a flat discoidal face 2, and with openmgsopening through such flat face. These openings are shown as radially extending grooves 3 which are preferably arc-shaped in cross section.

l. are contacts arranged in the grooves and 5 designates the insulation pieces located in the grooves, between the contacts 1 and the base. The portions of the contacts 4: lying in the grooves are also arc-shaped and hence the insulation is also arc-shaped; also the outer faces of the contacts and the outer edges of the insulation are preferably substantially flush with the flat face 2 of the base 1'. I I

6 designates the wiper movable in an orbit over the face 2 and the contacts 4, this wiper being spring pressed toward the face 2 and being carried by an arm 7 projecting from a sleeve or hub 8, which is mounted upon a shaft 9 forming part of the engine with which the distributor is associated, the shaft 9 being located at the center of the face 2 and of the circular series of contactst. The width of the wiper is greater than the width. of the insulation 5 between the contacts and the base where the insulation is exposed at the face 2, and as the base, 1,is metal, andthe same polarityas the wiper b, a comparatively long period of time for closing the circuit through any one contact, and a greater contact surface are provided for. The arm Tis here shown as formed with a. passage 10 therethrough parallel to the axis of the shaft 9 and the wiper is movable in such passage and pressed against the face 2 and the contacts 4: by a sprin As here illustrated, the wiper is round and formed with an annular shoulder 11 adjacent the face of the base 1 which shoulder 11 engages ashoulder lQ/at the inner end of the passage 10, and limits the movement of the wiper out of the passage. The wiper being round or cylindrical is free to turn in the passage about an axis at a right angle to the base 1, as it travels in its orbit over the'face of the base and over the contacts and hence the wiper wears evenly and always has a mammum 1 contact surface. The spring which presses the wiper is carried as a unit with a cover or'cap 13 for the passage 10 and is so arranged that its force is applied to not prevent rotation of the wiper about its own axis as ittravelsin its orbit overthe face of the base and over the contacts.

14 designates the spring which encircles a plunger 15 slidable axially through the cap 13, which presses at its inner end against the wiper 11 at the center or axis thereof, the sprlng 1 1 thrusting at one end against the inner face of the cap 13 and at its inner end against a shoulder 16 on the other end I base as by rivets 19. A suitable cap or cover 20 fits within the flange 17 and abuts at its edge against the ring 18, this cap being held in position. in any suitable manner as by the usual spring pressed tongue 21.

The base 1 is formed with a bracket arm 22 with which connection is made for shifting the base to retard or advance the spark, and the terminals 4 have outwardly extend- 7 ing arms 23, provided with binding screws lying the head or 24: by means of which such terminals are connected to the spark plugs of the cylinders of the engine, the construction here shown being adapted fora four cylinder engine.

The terminals L are suitably secured to the base as by hollow rivets 25 which exten'd through the base and the terminals. The rivets are insulated from one of such parts, usually the base 1, as by a bushing 26 and washer 27 of insulation. The heads of the rivets coacting with the terminals lie under the ring 18.

The hub 8 of the wiper arm is secured to a shaft 9 by a nut 28 threading on the end of the shaft against a washer 29, this wash-er 29 having a downturned flange 30 for overpin of a 'key 31 extending through an opening in the hubS and into an alined opening in the shaft. By reason of the key 31, the timer arm can be accurately replaced on the shaft 9.

The cap 13 is secured to the arm 7 in any suitable manner as by tying strips 32, extending through openings in the marginal flange 33 of the cap 13 and through alined openings in the arm 7.

This timer or distributor is particularly advantageous in that itconsists of but a few readily assembled parts which cannot easily get out of order and which are readily accessiblc and further in that owing to the metal base and the wiper having a wide and even contact surfacaa strong spark over a comparatively long period of time is produced. 1

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In adistributor or timer for ignition systems, the combination of a metal base having a'i'lat face formed with radially eX- tending grooves at intervals opening through such fiat face, contacts in the grooves and insulated from the base, and a wiper movable over the contactsand the face of the base in an orbit concentric with the center of the base, said grooves being arc-shaped and the contacts being also half round in cross section with their flat sides flush with the flat face of the base and the insulation arc-shaped faces of the contacts.

beingin the form of half tubes located between the bottoms of the grooves and the 2. In a distributor or timer for ignition systems, the combination of a metal base having a flat face formed with radially extending grooves at intervals opening through such fiat face, contacts in the grooves and insulated from the base, and a wiper movable over the contacts and the face of the base in-an orbit concentric with the center of the base, a ring of insulation overlying the margin of said face of the base and said contacts and the wiper being movable over said face and said contacts in an orbit within said ring.

3. In a distributor or timer for ignition systems, the combination of a metal base having a, flat face formed with radially extending grooves atintervals opening through such fiat face, contacts in" the grooves and insulated from the base, a wiper movable over the contacts and the face of the base in an orbit concentric with the center of the base, the base also having an annular marginal flange, a flat ring of insulation overlying the face of the base and the contacts within said annular flange,- and a cap fitting the annular flange and abutting against said ring.

4. In a distributor or timer for ignition systems, the combination of a wiper arm movable about an axis and having a passage, a cap secured on the arm over the passage, a wiper slidable in the passage and rotatable about an axis at an angle to the face of the base, a plunger slidably mounted in the cap and bearing against the inner end of the wiper near the center thereof and having a shoulder thereon, and a spring encircling the plunger and thrusting at one end against the cap and at its other end against the shoulder on the plunger. 7

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, this 5th day of December, 1924.

ARTHUR o. SGHR'OEDER. 

